U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014Lindsey Levere Beckum
Lindsey Levere "Doc" Beckum of Gainesville, a retired optician and owner of Beckum's Opticians and Gainesville Opticians, died Sunday in Gainesville. He was 84.
Mr. Beckum, who helped pass legislation making opticianry a licensed profession in Florida, operated the first full-service optical dispensary in Gainesville and was the first chairman of the Florida State Board of Dispensing Opticians. He was a member of the Guild of Opticians and American Opticians Association.
He was previously a private investigator for the State Attorney General's Office. He also served on the local steering committee for former Gov. Fuller Warren. After his retirement from opticianry, he became a rancher and owner of an antiques business and a sporting goods store in Gainesville.
Born in Wrens, Ga., he moved from Jacksonville to Gainesville 53 years ago. He graduated from Needles Institute of Optics in Chicago.
Mr. Beckum was a member of the International Order of Oddfellows and was a member of the board of trustees at First United Methodist Church, where he was a head usher.
He was one of the original founders of both the Boys Club of Alachua County and the local Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge.
Mr. Beckum enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Survivors include his wife, Lucy Tubb Beckum of Gainesville; a daughter, Jane B. Montgomery of Jacksonville; two sons, Dr. John Beckum and Albert Levere Beckum, both of Gainesville; a stepson, George F. Tubb of Gainesville; a sister, Sarah Sharpe of Cayce, S.C.; nine grandchildren; one step-granddaughter; and 12 great- grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Hospice of North Central Florida or to First United Methodist Church.
Edward Joseph Cunard Jr.
ALACHUA - Edward Joseph Cunard Jr. of Alachua died April 26 at his home after a long illness. He was 51.
Mr. Cunard was a hospital medical corpsman 3 in the U.S. Navy.
Born in Cleveland, he moved from New Jersey to Alachua 10 years ago. He attended Pembroke State University in Pembroke, N.C.
Survivors include two brothers, Sam Cunard of Anchorage, Alaska, and Mike Cunard of Elmer, N.J.; and a sister, Cathy Cunard of Elmer.
Acie W. Ennis
LAKE BUTLER - Acie W. Ennis of Lake Butler died Sunday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lake City after a long illness. He was 74.
Mr. Ennis was a carpenter. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Born in Claypool Holler, W.Va., he moved to Lake Butler 35 years ago.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Lake Butler.
Survivors include two sons, John Wayne Ennis and Richard Ennis, both of Lake Butler; three sisters, Betty Ennis of Rainell, W.Va., Helen Workman of Meadow Bridge, W.Va., and Shirley Ennis of Fort White; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Hospice of North Central Florida in Gainesville.
James Farnell
LIVE OAK - James Farnell of Live Oak died Sunday at Shands at Live Oak. He was 65.
Mr. Farnell was a first class petty officer and a parachute rigger for the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
He was born in Wauchula.
He was a member of the Suwannee County Genealogical Society, Disabled Veterans of American and Monastery of Apostles.
Survivors include his wife, Hazel Farnell of Live Oak; two daughters, Yvonne Farnell of Lake City and Cynthia L. Putnel of Mayo; and five grandchildren.
Mary Katharine Futch
LIVE OAK - Mary Katharine Futch of Live Oak died Sunday in Live Oak. She was 85.
Mrs. Futch was a former saleswoman for Avon.
Born in Hartford, Ala., she moved from Lake City to Live Oak 61 years ago.
She was a member of the American Camellia Society and the First Baptist Church, where she attended the Pheben Sunday school class and was director of Youth Training Union and past director of the nursery department.
Survivors include two daughters, Mercedes Babcock of Live Oak and Wynyard Smith of Warner Robins, Ga.; 12 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
Nettie B. Hodge
Nettie B. Hodge of Gainesville died Monday in Gainesville. She was 70.
Born in Newberry, Ms. Hodge was a lifelong resident of the Gainesville area.
Survivors include two sisters, Fannie L. Polk of Newberry and Thelma H. Fletcher of Gainesville; and several nieces and nephews.
Dwight Hawthorne Hunter
Dwight Hawthorne Hunter of Gainesville died Saturday at Hospice House. He was 88.
Mr. Hunter was a retired supervisor for the Alachua County School Board. As a director of recreation for the city of Gainesville, he planned and directed Camp Crystal for the first 19 years. He also served in the Red Cross, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.
Born in Nichols, Ga., he moved to Gainesville 52 years ago.
He was a past president of Recreation and Parks Association of Gainesville, a member of former President John Kennedy's National Council of Physical Education, the Rotary Club and the First Baptist Church in Gainesville, where he was the representative for the church for the Boy Scouts of America.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Hunter of Gainesville; a son, William D. Hunter of Tallahassee; a daughter, Marion H. Wilson of Gainesville; a sister, Blanche Gardner of Atlanta; and four grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Hospice House.
Sidney May Kinard
LIVE OAK - Sidney May Kinard of Live Oak died Sunday at Hospice House of Gainesville after a long illness. She was 83.
Mrs. Kinard was a former clerk at Cheek and Scott Drug Store in Live Oak. Born in West Palm Beach, she moved to Live Oak 41 years ago.
She was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Anna Miller Circle, part of the Elk's Club, both in Live Oak.
Survivors include four sons, George Kinard III of West Palm Beach, Charles Kinard and Jerry Kinard, both of Live Oak, and Kenneth Kinard of Lake Park, Ga.; six grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren.
Robert John McDonald Sr.
LAKE GENEVA - Robert John McDonald Sr. of Lake Geneva died Saturday at Shands at AGH in Gainesville. He was 74.
Mr. McDonald retired as a battalion chief at the Chicago Fire Department.
Born in Chicago, he moved to Lake Geneva 22 years ago.
He was a past president of the Lions Club in Keystone Heights and was a member of St. Williams Catholic Church and the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, Maureen McDonald of Lake Geneva; two daughters, Donna McDonald of Chicago and Sandra Fark of Murphysboro, Ill.; three sons, Robert John McDonald Jr., John Joseph McDonald and James Michael McDonald, all of Chicago; two stepsons, David Battistoni of Chicago and John Battistoni of Oakbrook, Ill.; a stepdaughter, Patricia Marie LaPorta of Chicago; a sister, Darlene Tomlinson of Keystone Heights; and 16 grandchildren.
Dollie Read
TRENTON - Dollie Read of Trenton died Saturday at Shands at AGH in Gainesville. She was 80.
Mrs. Read was a homemaker and a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Trenton.
Born in Morriston, she moved from Morriston to Trenton 59 years ago. She enjoyed gardening.
Mrs. Read was preceded in death by her husband, Eli Montgomery Read.
Survivors include a daughter, Tanya Rood of Trenton; two sisters, Carrie Bell Guest and Mallie Peacock, both of Morriston; and a granddaughter.
